This is the class blog for the class in Creative Writing, Spring 2017, at Aalborg University, Denmark.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Have you heard?

Servant to sister

-You know dear sister, yesterday when I was changing the duke's sheets in his
bedchamber. I noticed by the door that he had a visitor. They were discussing
some business arrangement, until the duke decided to show the poor newcomer his
art collection. He is always trying to impress people with his finest piece
made by that charlatan Frá Pandolf. Yet none of the staff has actually seen
said piece. I wonder what it could be.

Sister to customer

-Wow, you really blow me away every time my
sweet sir, I don't understand how you do it. I know you must have a lot of
meetings to attend. But I just heard from my sister, you know the one who works
for the duke, that he had a visit the other day. Apparently some man, who he
was discussing important arrangements with. The duke then showed this visitor
his most private painting, that not even the staff have laid eyes upon. Made by
Frá Pandolf, and knowing that ladies man, his piece was probably of some woman.
So whomever the visitor is, he must be, or be sent from someone special.

Customer to wife

-I told you Patricia, I was at a meeting with
the others from the club, I'm sorry it ran so late. But on my way home I heard
the most curious thing about the duke, erh.. from.. some random civilian,
doesn't matter who told me. Apparently the duke have had a visit by someone
sent from high up the hierarchy, it would not surprise me if it was from the
count himself. And no one knows what arrangement they have been negotiating,
but it is apparently very personal. The duke even showed the visitor his most
precious painting of some woman, made by the womanizer Frá Pandolf. It is so
personal that the duke does not even want the staff to lay eyes on it. It's
gotta be a portrait of the late duchess, because what could be more be more
precious than one's wife, right?

Wife to friends

-Now girls, my husband just told me a peculiar
story about our dear duke. It seems that the duke has had a visit from an
emissary of the count. Together they have been negotiating some arrangements.
Considering the duke is a widower, it would be likely for the negotiations to
be about the counts daughter. But weirdly enough, after their arrangement, the
duke showed the emissary a most private painting of his late duchess. Made by
that scandalous Frá Pandolf. Not even the staff is allowed to look at it.
Should not surprise me, I heard the late duchess was a woman whom the men were
very fond of starring at.

Friend to baker

-Hmm, I think I'll have two of these and a
sweet bun for our boy at home. Say, have you heard about the emissary of the
count visiting the duke. Apparently they have been arranging a marriage with the counts daughter. Now the
duke is already a widower to more than one duchess, but he keeps a secret
painting away from the staff, which he showed the emissary. A portrait of his
late wife, made by that rake called Frá Pandolf. Thing is, our former duchess
was not only desired by the duke, but by his male staff as well. I don't
understand how the duke could've handled it, I would be furious with jealousy.

Baker to wife overheard by errand boy

-Honey, I knew there was something going on
with the duke. I told you, he always order the same amount of bread and
pastries every week. Yet last week he ordered more than usual, and now I know
why. He had an emissary of the count on visit. The seem to be arranging a
marriage between him and the count's daughter. Yet the duke shared more than
just marriage plans. He also shared a painting that no one is allowed to gaze
upon. It appears to be a portrait of his late wife, made by the stud Frá
Pandolf. Now many know that the late duchess was favored by men all around her,
which drove the duke furious. Now that I think about it, the duchess' demise
came so sudden. You don't suppose?¨

Errand boy to chef

-Here is your weekly delivery from the baker
sir. All orders for the duke should be there. I have to ask, is it true? I
overheard a conversation between my parents about the duke. That he ordered the
demise of our late duchess because she lay with all the men around her. Because
I heard that he had a visit and…

Chef to servant
-Can you stir in the soup for a few
minutes? Thanks. I just spoke with the errand boy, apparently it was an
emissary of the duke who visited the other day. And guess what, I know about
our duke's secret art piece, and there's a great tragedy behind it…

Servant to sister

-You know dear sister, I helped the duke's
chef out the other day, and do I have some juicy stuff to tell you.